Paper-feeding mechanism



. 1 March 927 L. H. MORSE PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 22. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 amount 1,621678 March 22, 1927. L. H MORSE PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 22. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 FlG. 2

awuemlioo 1 2 March 22, 9 7 L. H MORSE PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM filed Dec. 22. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 1,621,678 Ma H. MORSE PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 22. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 smu wwhmaa wfim Quorum Y 1,621,678 March 22, 1927' H. MORSE PAPER FEEDING MECHANI 5M Filed Dec. 22. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 March 22, 1927. 1,621,678

L. H. MORSE PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 22. 1924 s'sneets-sheet v 1,621,678 March 22, 1927- L H, MORSE PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 22. 1924 8' Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCE H. MORSE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN MULTI- GRAPH COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, "OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

PAPER-FEEDING MECHANISM.

Application tiled December 22, 1924. 'Serial No. 757,352.

This invention relates to an addressing machine of the type wherein plates are fed one after another from a stack and passed between a pair of platens which efliect the printing impression upon paper, after which the paper and plates are discharged into respective receptacles. Ink for the impression vis provided in a suitable manner, 'as for instance by means of an inking ribbon inter posed between the plate and the paper.

One of the objects of the present lnvention is to provide a simple and eflicient mechanism for feeding sheets of paper, cards, envelopes, bulletins, booklets, etc., one after another to the impressing region. This paper feeding mechanism (receiving the paper units one after another from a manual or automatic feed as desired) automatically controls the starting of the feed and thereafter progresses the paper unit until the impression is effected and the printed unit dclivered. Suitable adjustments enable the placing of the imprint on the sheet in any desired location.

Another feature of the invention com-'- prises an effective mechanism for alternately moving one of the platens from a normally inactive position to its active position and then returning it following the printing impression, the result being that this platen is only active at or about the time of the ini pressfon, and smudgingot' the platen by inpresent: More specifically, I control this selection by tabs on the plates differently positioned according to the classification of the plate, the tab in the selected location operating a suitable mechanism to cause the normally idle platen to come to active postion. I

The characteristics mentioned are hereinafter more fully explained in connection and frame broken away; Fig. 2 is a plan of the machine, the paper table and driving crank being broken away; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section. in a plane parallel with Fig. 1, certain parts being broken away; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the magazine; Fig. 5' is a vertical section taken on line 55 of Fig. 4-, but on a larger scale, showing the selectlve operation of the address plate tabs; Fig. 6 is a perspective of theaddress plate tab; Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross-section on the l'ne 7-7 on Figs. 3 and 5; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the driving mechanism, and certain controlling cams, this View looking from the opposite direction to Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the main shafts, the plan of the section be'ng indicated by the line 99 in Fig. 1; Fig. 10 is a vertical section longitudinally of the machine illustrating the mechanism for controlling the activity or inactivity of the platen, the plane of this section being indicated by the line 10-10 of Fig.2; Fig. 11 is a view of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 10 in another position; Fig. 12 is' a plan of the ribbonrarrying 7 frame and certain of its coacting arts; Fig. 13 is a perspective of an address plate and tab which may be used in the particular machine shown.

My invention is shown in the drawings machine of the type shown in application No. 745,902 filed October 25, 1924, by Clifton Chisholm. Reference is made to that a plizine, the restacking magazine and the rib bon carrying mechanism. While my invention is not confined to use with that particular machine, it will be convenient to describe first the general characteristics of such complete machine. a

The frame of the machine consists essenas adapted for embodimentin an addressing tally projecting feet 23 adapted to engage the bottommost plate and support the stack.

The front and sides of the magazine comprise L-shaped plates 25 carried on yokes 26 pivoted at 27 and having inwardly-projecting slidably-connected arms 28. Suitable means, not shown, are provided for swinging the yokes apart to separate the plates 25 and open the front of the magazine for installation' of the address plates.

While the machine may be adapted to carry any suitable address plate, it maybe mentioned. that the particular plate shown, designated A, in Figs. 4 and 13, comprises a sheet metal body having on its upper surface rows of raised buttons a, with over-. hanging edges, these buttons being pressed from the plate material and carried by upwardly extending corrugations a of the plate. The edges of the buttons are free from-the plate and thus are adapted to be underhung by the inwardly flanged edges of suitably embossed strips B mounted thereon and carrying the'printing characters.

The'ends of the plate are bent into hollow ribs a providing suitable stiffness. j

The address plates are fed one after another from the bottom of the magazine forwardly to their active position by a pair of sprocket chains 50, each of which has a horizontal upper reach extending forwardly above the depressed portion 11 of the bed, the two chains lyin in two vertical planes as illustratedfin Figs. 3 and 7. The two chains at their forward ends are shown as looped around a pair of sprockets 51 pinned on a drive shaft 52, rotatably mounted in the bed. -At the rear these chains pass around sprockets 54 mounted in a yoke 56 adjustably supported by the rear end of the frame.

'Certain links of the chains 50 have upstanding lugs 60 adapted to engage the end ribs or of the bottommost address plates A in the magazine, and thereby draw such plate forwardly as the chains travel. In

the embodiment shown, there are two of these lugs on each chain 50, and the machine is designed to feed the chains one-half their length at each cycle of operation.

Loosely journaled on the shaft 52 between the wheels-51, is the supporting platen for the address plate. This laten has a segmental portion 71 designe to support the plate during printing'operation. The segmental portion may have radial ribs 74 adapted to occupy rooves a formed in the underside of the address plate A. A suitable lip 75 at the forward edge of the platen forms a stop for the plate at the beginning of the printing impression.

Directly above the supporting platen 70 is the arcuate impressionplaten 81 carried on a rotatable drum 82 mounted on and driven by the main shaft80. These members, however, constitute part of my paper feed mechanism and will be hereinafter described. On the shaft is an operating handle 87. Suitable gears 88 and 89 connect the shafts 80 and 52.

It results from the above described mechanism, that when the crank is; rotated in the proper direction, the gear and sprocket chains carry, the bottommost plate in the magazine forwardl into position between the two platens so t at it may impress paper traveling forwardly with the plate atthis point. I prefer toprovide the ink for the impression by means of a ribbon C, which overlies the plate and underlies the paper.

In the machineshown, the ribbon is carried on a pair of spools mounted on a reciprocating frame. This frame is best shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 12 and comprises a pair of parallel bars 110, a cross bar 112 rigidly connecting them at their forward endsand a cross bar 113 to connect them at their rear ends. The latter cross member is provided with upstanding ears 115 carrying the rear ribbon spool 120. The forward I cross bar I 112 has downwardly extending ears 116 carrying the forward spool 121.

The ribbon extends intermediately in substantially. the same plane as the bars 110 but between them. The bars 110 are guided by, flanged rollers 118 carried bythe stationary frame.

The ribbon carrying frame described is reciprocated consequent upon the rotation of the main shaft 80. To effect this, a cam groove 130*may be provided on the inner face of the-main gear 88. This groove receives a roller 131 on the arm 132 pivoted at its upper end to the right hand side of the frame bracket 15 and atits lower end engaging the reciprocating rod 135 slidably mounted in this bracket and connected to the reciprocating ribbon frame as by an extension of the cross bar .112. The cam groove 130 is so formed that the ribbon frame moves forwardly with the plate during impression at the same speed as the plate, but following the rinting impression, the frame returns to its rearward position.

To feed the ribbon ste by step automatically as it is reciprocate I prefer to place a ratchet wheel as 140, 141, on each spool,

one or the other of which wheels coacts with a corresponding pawl 142 or 143 carried on a'bar 145 intermediately pivoted as at 14A in Fig. 1. When the bar is in the position shown in this figure, the pawl 14:3 engages the ratchet wheel 141 and rotates it the distance 'of one ratchet tooth as the reciprocating frame is coming into its rearmost po-' sition. If, however',.t h e bar 145 were swung slightly so as to elevate the rear end," the pawl 142 wou1d engage the ratchet wheel 140 while the pawl "143 would clear the ratchet wheel;141. f f

-Follow'in" the printing impression theplate is de ivered to the receiving drawer. A suitable drawer is shown at D in Fig. 3'

and sup-ported in a slightly inclined posi-f- 153'and depending into the drawer. The

plate then slides downwardly into the drawer as indicated at A.. The swinging packer 152 is connected by an eccentric strap 154 with an eccentric 155 on the shaft 52, the result being that the discharged plates are packed one after the, other into the drawer.

The machine so far specifically described is not itself comprised within my invention but is the invention of Clifton Chisholm as alread mentioned. I prefer however to provi e a meehanism I have devised for. swinging the supportingplaten in place of that shown in the Chisholm application.

i To rock the supporting platen 70 into active position and cause its surface to travel forwardly at the same, speed with the re.- ciprocating ribbon frame, 1 mount on this reciprocatin frame a rack 157 which meshes with .a toot ed sector 158 connected by a link 159 with the rocking member 70. The

proper proportioning ofthe lever arms of with the supporting platen, address and inking ribbon of an addressing mac me,

the two rocking members 158 and76, substantially as shown in Fig. 3, causes the arcuate surface of the supportingplaten to move at a. speed almost exactly the'same as the strai ht movement of the inking ribbon. Any slig t inaccuracy is compensated for by looseness in the pivots of links 159,. since the Supporting platen is in efl'ect geared with the plate by reason of the ribs 74 on the platen meshing with the grooves a in the plate, such engagementtaking care of properly moving the platen while the looseness described allows it.

I will now.describe my paper feeding mechanism which is adapted to take sheets, envelopes, cards, bulletins or booklets, one

after the other from an elevated table and carry them around into a position to criact at 'vide mechanism hereafter and in the embodiment may well cooperate with such parts of the Chisholm machine.

The paper feeding drum 82 heretofore mentioned best shown'in' Figs. 3 and 9, is conveniently made as a complete metal drum carrying on its surface yielding bands 160 and 161, of rubber or other suitable material. This drum carries also the, arcuate yielding platen 81. The endmost rubber bands 160 are completely annular; the intermediate band 161 is incomplete having its ends terminating adjacent the edges of the platen.

The drum on the shaft80 and is also journaled inthe left hand side of the frame bracket 15. The drum is connected by a shiftable coupling to described is mounted on an eccentric sleeve 165 which receives and bears the shaft 80, so that it may be rotated thereby, irrespectiveof the position of the eccentric sleeve. For this purpose I have shown an Oldham coupling comprising a collar 166 pinned to the shaft 80, and a ring 167 having a pair of diametric lugs engagifig a diametric groove in the collar and another pair of lugs located from those first mentioned and engaging a groove in the drum.

To turn the eccentric sleeve to bring the drum to and from active position, I provide the following mechanisms. In the left hand end portion of the eccentric (Fi 9), 1 secure a stub shaft 170; loose on t isshaft ll place a lever 171, and l[ connect this lever adjustably to an arm-172 rigid on the shaft.

As shown, the arm 172 has an arcuate slot 173 through which a screw 1741 passes into the lever 171. The lower portion of the lever 171 is connected by links 175 with a rock arm 176 on a shaft 177, mounted in the frame member 15. Rigid on this shaft 177 is a rocker 180 carrying a roller 181 adapted to coact with a cam 182 rigidly secured to the shaft 80, Figs. 9, 10 and 11, A spring 184 tends to keep the roller in. contact with the cam and to turn the eccentric in the direction to lower the paper dru'm82, sothat its platen 81 may coact with the supp'ortin'g'platen 7 U and the interposed address Plate.

In what maybe called normal operation, the loweringof the platen takes .p ace once each revolution as the portion of the cam 182 "of shortest radius comes into action with the roller 181. Such action takes place just as the platen 81 has come into position for coaction with the plate. However, I prodescribed for holdin the rocker in-its idle position, that is,1wit the platen non-eifectiverfor successive rotations of the drum, and this will be described in connection with the plate-sel'ecting mechanism.

' Coacting with the elastic rings 160 and 161 on the upper feeding drum are belts 190,

which as shown in Fig. 3 lie for a considerable distance in contact with the rubber rings. Each of these belts is carried by three rollers 1-91, 192' and 193. The rollers 191 are mounted a short distance back from the drum on a shaft journaled in the frame members 15 and 16. The rollers 192 are each mounted in a yoke-shaped lever 195 loose on a rod 197, and have a tendency to swing toward the rear by reason of springs 196 connected with the upper ends of these levers. The roller 193 is mounted on a shaft 199 carried by the arms 200 and 201' of the rocking frame or yoke 202, which is mounted on the shaft 203 above the paper drum. In operation, the yoke described is rigid with the shaft 203, but it is adjustable thereon by means of the yoke being freely mounted on the shaft and connected by a screw 205 with a collar 206 tighten the shaft.

On the shaft 203 there is rigidly secured also an arm 20'? carrying an adjustable screw 208. This screwbears at its lower end against a rock arm 210 on a shaft 211 which carries a number of arms 212. Each of these arms is provided at its rearvend with an up-turned stop finger 213, Between these arms are rollers 214 in a region forward of the stop fingers and directly beneath the belt rollers 193.. The paper'table 220, broken away in the drawings, extends over the arms 212 to a point adjacent the drum 82 and is provided with openings through which the stop fingers 213 and rollers 214 may project above the top 'of the table.

The paper may be carried in a suitable pile on the extending portion of the paper table 220 and fed manually or "otherwise as desired, one at a time toward the rear, until;-

stopped by the advancing edgeengaging the raised stop fingers 213. At the proper time in the cycle of operation mechanism to be described rocks the yoke 200 to lower the rollers 193, bringing the traveling belts 190 into engagement with the top surface of the stopped sheet. At the same time, the adjus. able screw 208 rocks downwardly the arms carrying the stop fingers so that they are withdrawn from the path of the sheet, and, simultaneously, the sheet is gripped between the belts and the rollers 214 and is thus fed rearwardly an% gripped between the belts and the drum. he rotation of the drum then carries the sheets around with it so that it passes between the drum and the supporting platen, and, clinging to the drum at its forward edge, passes above the dis charge guide plate 230 and between the drum and ejector rollers 231, carried by rock arms 232 mounted on a cross-shaft 233 and spring pressed toward the drum. The sheet thus emerges through the horizontal discharge slot 235 (Fig. 3) into a suitable receptac e (not shown).

.firmness. (to raise or lower the stop to the thickness of the material fed. En-

It is to be understood that at the proper time in the described progress of the sheet, the eccentric sleeve 165 is turned, by the mechanism heretofore described, to bring the platen into coaction with the address plate and supporting platen 7 0 to effect the.

on the gear by screws 243. This cam acts on a roller 245 on a lever 246, secured to the shaft.- 203, carrying the rocking yoke 202.

The roller 245 is maintained in contact with the drum by springs 247 acting on arms 248 forming a portion of the yoke 202. From this it results that at the proper time, as determined by the location of the earn 240 on the gear 88, the paper is gripped and fed with the drum so that the proper region of the paper is across the arcuate platen 81 and thus comes between the printing'plate and is impressed. Springs247 may have their tension adjusted by changing the position of their anchorage arms 249 on their supporting rod 250. These same springs maintain the contact between the adjusting screw 205 and the arm 206.

Adjustment is made for different thicknesses of paper from tissue paper to small booklets by turning the screw 205 so that the sheet will be gripped with-the proper The screw 208 ma also be turned ger according gagement of the paper by the belts is caused by the springs 247 whenever the depressed portion of the cam 240 allows it. The positive action of the cam by reason of: the raised portion 241 serves to'separate the belts and rollers 214 and cause the raising of the stop fingers 213 into the position shown in Fig. 3.

The machine so far described is complete to take plates from a stack and feed them forwardly together with the inking ribbon and to receive the paper supplied to the stop fingers and feed it about the paper drum to effect the printing impression on the paper in the desired region thereof, and thereafter deliver the paper to its receptacle and discharge the used plate to the receiving drawer. My invention however, contemplates the further feature of mechanism to enable any plates desired to pass idly through the ma chine, the paper being fed only tor selected plates, whereby when the stack of address plates is run through the machine, only those of a certain group efiect an impression, the

is controlled by suitable tabs adjustably po-.

sitioned on the plate. In Figs. 4, 5-, and 6, I have shown certain tabs E made in accordance with patent 1,500,438, grantedJuly 8th, 1924, to Clifton Chisholm, each tab comprising a doubled spring meta-l member having a short arm .2 with a raised transverse.

portion 0' adapted to overlie an edgerib On the underside of the projections a on the plate. There are a number of these projections and the tab may be located with reference to any one of them,

its location determining the group to which that plate belongs. Thesetabs, by mechanism about to be described, operate to control the mechanism which lowers the drum so that the drum is lowered'only when the bottommost plate 'is one havingits tab in the selected location.

lhe mechanismby which the selection is effected is best shown in- Figs. 3 to 8 inclusive. Directly beneath the back portion of the magazine, inposition to be engaged by correspondingly po:itioned tabs E is a row of vertical pins 260. Each pin, engages at its lower end with a blade 261 constituting a narrow lever loosely journaled on a. supporting rod 262. Any or all of these blades are retained in an idle horizontal osition beneath the depressed portion 11 o the bed by means of individual spring fingers 263 on a comb carried on the underside of the bed. If all of these blades are in this horizontal position, the selecting mechanism is idle and all of the plates are printed from irrespective of the position of the tabs thereon.

vVhen it is desired to print only selected plates, the blade 261 corresponding to the position or the tabs of the desired group is lowered so that it comes into the position shown in broken lines-in Fig. 5 with the nose of the blade engaging underside of the magazine feet 23 and with the corresponding pin 260 elevated; Such movement of any desiredblade is etl'ected in any suitable manner, a simple means being to push a rod down through one of the openings 265 in the bed plate to push the blade downward] tree from its retaining spring. When the lads is in the lowermost position described it stands in front of a rocking member 270 having a carrying the yoke 202 controlling the belts.

Accordingly,,so long as the selected and depressed blade 261 remains in its lowermost; position no paper is fed for the successive rotations of the drum, but the plates are transferred idly one after another from the bottom of the stack into the receiving drawer D. When, however, the bottommost plate of the stack has its tab E in the position corresponding to the depres ed blade 261, such tab will engage the raised pin 260 and thus swing the inclined blade 261 into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5 so that its forward end clears the universal abutment 271 on the rocker 270. This enables the drum to operate as usual, to feed the paper and move 291 adapted to coact with a-shoulder 292 on' the upper arm of the rocker 180 which controls the turning of the platen. When the a cam 182 has moved this rocker into its lowermost position (Fig. 11) to raise the platen, the arm 190 under the influence of the-spring 290 comes over the shoulder 292 to lock the rocker in this position. Such lock is released for every rotation of the drum which prints. When the arm 207 is rocked down to release the stop fingers 213 an adjustable screw 295 on this arm at the same time swings the arm 291 to idle position and releases the rocker 180. When any-depressed selector blade 251 prevents the rocking of the yoke 202 as described so that no paper is fed, this likewise prevents the release of the lock 291 so that the eccentric sleeve 165 remains with the paper drum elevated and neither is this drum lowered nor the paper gripped until the selected blade is moved to release the universal abutment 27l'.

To increase the number of possible selections with one tab on a plate, It may narrow the doubled end of the tab es shown in broken lines in Fig. 4, allowing the pins 260 to be placed more closely together. Fig. 4 shows tabs of three different forms, the tab E overhanging two pins, tab E overhanging the left hand one ot the pins which a fullwidth tab would engage, and the tab E the right hand one of such two pins. By employing thesethree characters of tabs, l

am therefore able to cause three difl'erent selections for each tab position of the plate. It will be seen however, that the number of selections may be increased many fold by employing a plurality of tabs on a plate, since my selecting mechanism may operate equally well with combinations out pins and blades as with a single pin and blade active. Inasmuch as anyone blade in the lowermost too position prevents the operation of the ma chine, if three blades for instance are lowered it is obviousthat the raising of any one or two will not enable the operation of the machine, but that suitably placed tabs may insure the raising of the three, to 'allow. the operation.

It will be seen that the selecting mechanism is very simple. It is only necessary to push down the blade or blades which correspond in position to the desired tab or tabs, and thereafter the operation is automatic to print from such selected plates only. To change the selection, any depressed blade is raised to its normal idle position and a new blade depressed. To raise the blades I have shown a cranked bail 280 (Fig. 3) which normally lies idly beneath the depressed blades, but by being given about a quarterturn all such depressed blades are restored to normal idle position where they are held by their spring fingers 263. I

B locating the selector pins directly beneatl i the magazine so that they act on the plate while inthe magazine, rather than at some intermediate point in the travel of the plate, I obtain suflicient time after the test of the plate is made by this selector for the paper feed to act. Accordingly I prevent the paper being gripped by the pa er .feed and started on its course whenever t e selective device indicates that it is not desired to print from that plate. This feature of leaving the paper undisturbed when there is to be no imprint made on that cycle of opera tion is one of the advantageous characteristics of my invention.

Attention is also called to the compactness of any paper feed and selecting mechanism. The selecting mechanism is mounted principally in idle space beneath the bed of the machine, while the paper i feed mechanism stands above the machine and requires practically no more lateral'space than that required by an addressor where the paper is manually, placed in printing position. Furthermore, my paper feed mechanism is adapted to receive sheets fed by any suitable automatic machine, the only requirement being that sheets be supplied one after another against the stop fingers 213 during the time they are elevated.

1 claim-- 1. In an addressingmachine, the combination of a conveyor for address plates, at rotary drum adapted to act as a paper conveyor and having animpression platen, an eccentric mounting for the drum, and means for automatically and periodically turning such eccentric mounting.

2. In an addressing machine, the combination, with a'magazine for addressing plates, of a conveyor for movingplates from the magazine, an oscillatory platen adapted to support said, plates, a rotary drum adapted ,eva

o coact with the oscillatory platen and an interposed address plate, means for feeding paper with the drum into position between it and the address plate, and means for raising and lowering said drum.

3. In an addressing machine, the combination with a magazine for addressing plates,

a conveyor for the same, a rotar drum carrying an impression platen, be ts coacting with the 0 dfrpm to convey paper, an eccentric mounting or the drum, and means for automatically and periodically turning such eccentric mounting.

4. In an addressing machine, the combination with a; magazine for address plates, a

conveyor for progressing said plates, a rotary drum carrying a platen to coact with a plate, a traveling belt lying in contact with a portion of the surface of the drum and having a portion free from the drum, and means for moving the. latter portion into engagement with the paper to feed it to the drum.

5. In a machine of the character described,

the combination of a rotary drum, an endless belt lying for a portion of its course in contact with the drum, a movable member carrying a roller over which the belt runs, and means for movingsaid member to bring a portion of the belt on the roller into contact with the paper to feed the same into the conjoint grip of the belt and drum.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotary drum, an endless belt in contact with the drum in a portion for the course of the belt, a roller free from the drum about which the belt loops, another roller independent of the belt and adjacent thereto, whereby paper may be placed between the latter roller and belt, and means for causing the belt and said latter roller to pinch the paper between them and thereby feed it.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotary drum, a oelt lying in contact with the drum on one side thereof a roller located in the region on the onnosite side of the drum, said belt looping around said roller, a paper table beneath said roller, and another roller beneath the paper table projecting above the top thereof a-ndmeans for moving the belt down onto the paper.

8. In an addressing machine, the combination of a rotary drum earrving'a segmental platen, elastic rings around the drum, belts lyingin engagement with said rings. and carried by rollers .mounted independently of the drum, and means for'movingone of said rollers to grip paper and feed it toward the drum.

9. In an addressing machine the combination of a rotary drum carrying a segmental impression platen, elastic rings around the drum, belts lying in engagement with said llUll 9 less belt in contact with the rear portion of rings and carried by rollers mounted independently' of the drum, a supporting platen, means for feeding address plates between said platens and means for moving the drum toward the supporting platen.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotary drum, an endless belt having a portion of one reach in contact with the drum, a movable roller carrying a loop of saidvbelt, a paper table mechanism beneath the paper table having suitable fingers adapted to project above it, mechanism for lowering the belt into engagement with the top "of the paper on the table and at the same time lowering the fin-' gers from the front of such paper.

11. In an addressing machine, the combination with a magazine for address plates, a conveyor for moving plates from the magazine, an oscillatory platen adapted to support said plates, a rotary drum adapted to coact with the oscillatory platen and an in terposed address plate, means for raising and lowering said drum, an endless belt in contact with the rear portion of the drum and free from the drumin the upper forward portion, a paper table extending -be-.

neath said free forward portion of the belt, and means for controlling the feed of paper along said table into the grip of the belt and drum. f

12. In an addressing'machine the combination with a magazine for addressing plates, a conveyor for plates from the magazine, a platen adapted to support (said plates, a rotary drum mounted on an eccentric sleeve, means for turning said sleeve to cause the drum to coact with the supporting' platen and an interposed plate, an endthe drum and free from the drum in the upper forward portion, a paper table extending beneath said free forward portion of the belt, and means for lowering the forward portion of the belt to engage paper and feed it along said table into the grinof the belt and drum.

13. In an addressing machine the combination with a magazine, a movable supporting platen, a coacting impression platen, means for feeding address plates one after the other from the magazine to a position between the platens, an inking ribbon passing between the address plate and the impression platen, means for reciprocating the ribbon, and mechanism for moving the supporting platen operated by the ribbon reciprocating means.

14. In an addressing machine, the combination of a magazine for address plates, an oscillatory supporting platen, a coacting impression platen, a means for feeding plates one after theother from the magazine to a position between the platens, areciprocatory inking frame, and mechanism connectmg it with the oscillatory platen. v

15. Inv an addressing machine, the combination with a magazine, an oscillatory platen, a coactin'g impression platen, means for feeding the plates one after the other from the magazine to a position between the platens, an inking ribbon passing between the plate and impression platen, a reciproc-atory frame carrying said ribbon, a rackon said frame, a gear member meshmg with the rack, and a connection between the same and the supporting platen.

16. In an addressing machine the combination of a magazine for address plates, an

oscillatory supporting platen, an impression platen above the supporting platen, a pair of conveyor chains adapted to feed plates one after the other to a position between the platens, a reciprocatory inking frame, a rack carried thereby, a tooth sector meshing with the rack and a link connecting said sector with an arm of the oscillatory platen.

17. In'an addressing machine, the combination with a magazine for addressing plates, an impression platen, a conveyor adapted to convey plates from the magazine into position to coact with the platen, means for periodically moving the platen to idle and active position, and a selecting device coacting with the bottommost plate, in the magazine and controlled by such plate for determining whether the platen shall come to active position to print from that plate.

18. In an addressing machine the combination with a magazine for addressing plates, an impression platen, a conveyor adapted to conveyplates from the magazine into osition to coact with the platen, means for ceding material to be impressed, and a selecting device controlled by the plates for determining whether the material shall be fed.

19. In an addressing machine, the combination with a series of address plates, proecting tabs separable from the plates, means on each plate for holding the tab in any one of several positions thereon, of mechanism adapted to be engaged differently by the tabs in different positions .andincluding a series of abutments adapted to be set, means for printing from the address plates, and means whereby said mechanism controls the printing, but causing said abutments to intercept or clear means effecting the impress1on..

20. The combination with a series of ad dress plates having differently positioned index tabs thereon, a magazine for holding such address plates, means for progressing such address plates, means for feeding paper thereto, and mechanism whereby the tabs may control the paper feed.

21. In an addressing machinethe combination with a magazine adapted to hold a series" of address plates with index tabs adapted to be variously ositioned, a series of members adapted to he engaged respectively by the tabs in difierent positions, means for feeding paper to the address plates, and means whereby said members control the feeding.

22. The combination with a series of ad dress plates, projecting tabs separable from the plates, means on each plate for holdingthe tabs in any one of several positions thereon, a magazine for holding such address plates, means for feeding such addressplates, means for printing therefrom, a series of movable abutments corresponding to diflerent positions of the tabs and adapted to engage the bottommost late in the magazine, mechanism whereby t e tabs cause movement of the abutments, and mechanism for affecting the printing having a movable member and Whose path of movementmay be intercepted by any of said abutments.

23. The combination with a series of address plates, projecting tabs separable from the plates, and means on each plate for holding the tab in any one of various positions thereon, of mechanism for holding such plates, a series of members adapted to be seectively engaged by the tabs, a rotary impression platen, a conveyor for carrying the plates into position'to coact with the platen, means for moving said platen to and from active position, and mechanism actuated by a selected member for controlling said means.

24. The combination with a series of address plates having index tabs differently positioned on difierent plates, mechanisms for holding such plates, a series of members adapted to be selectively engaged by the tabs, a conveyor for progressing the plates,

' posed therewith, a series of means for moving paper into position to be impressed by'the ate, and mechanism actuated by a selected member for controlling said means. g

25. The combination with a series of address platesfprojecting tabs se arable from the plates, and means on each p ate for holding the tab in anyone of various positions thereon, 'of a stationary series of pins corresponding to the respective positions of. the tabs, each pin being adapted to be actuated by a tab juxtaposed therewith, and means for controlling the printing actuated by said 26. The combination with a seriesof address plates, projecting tabs se arable from the plates, and means on the p ate for holding the tab in any one of various positions thereon, of a series ofpins corresponding. to the respective positions of the tab, each pin being adapted to be-actuated b atab juxtautments corresponding to the pins and movable respectively thereby,- said abutments being adapted to be positioned in thepath of mechanism whose movement is necessary for printing and be removed from such path by the actuation ofsaid' pins.

27. In an addressing machine, the combination with address plates having index tabs differently positioned on different plates, a magazine for such'address plates, a row of pins'extending across the magazine, a series of abutments operated'by the respective pins, impressing mechanism, means for moving the same to active position including a member having apath of movement which may be intercepted by any one of said abutmcnts.

28. In an addressing machine, thef'combination with address plates having index tabs differently positioned on different plates, a magazine for such address plates, a row of pinsextending across the magazine, a series of abut-ments operated by the respective pins,

and paper feeding mechanism some part of which has a path of movement which may be intercepted by any one of said abutments.

29. Inzan addressing machine, the'combination of a magazine for address plates, a series of ins beneath the same, a'series of pivoted b ades beneath the pins and adapted to be moved by the depression of t e pins, a universal member movable in a path which intercepts any blade when its pin is in raised position, but clears that blade when its pin has been lowered, an impression platen hav.

ing an eccentric mounting, and a connecting mechanism between said universal member and said eccentric mounting.

" 30. In an addressing machine, the combination of a magazine for addressplates, aseries of pins beneath the same',.a series of pivoted blades beneath thepins and; adapted to be moved by the impression of the pins, a universal member movable in a path which intercepts any abutment when its pin is in raised position, but clears that blade when its pin has been lowered, and paper feed mechanism controlled by said universal member.

31. In an addressing 'machindthe combination with a magazine for address plates and a series of movable pins extending across the magazine, a corresponding series of pivoted blades movable b said pins, a universal abutment member a a ted to move in a path which intersects an idle position of said blades, but is free therefrom when the blades have been swung on their pivots by movement of said pins, and means controlled by said universal abutment member and in turn controlling some necessary factor in printing on paper.

32. In an addressingmachine, the combi nation with a magazine for address plates and a series of movable pins extending across the-magazine, a corresponding series of pivoted blades movable by said pins, a unimovement of said pins, a rotar impression platen, an eccentric mounting t erefor, con- "necting mechanism between said abutment member and said eccentric mounting and conveyor chainsadapted to convey the bottommost plate in the magazine into position for coaction with said platen;

33. In an addressing machine, the combination of a magazine for a stack of address lates, an endless conveyor for feeding the ottommost plate forwardly, a supporting platen for such plate, a rotary paper feeding drum having an impression platen above the supporting platen, means for feeding paper onto the upper surface of said drum, means for guiding such paper about the drum to cause it to pass between the drum and the address plate, mechanism for conjointly controlling the paper feed and the presentation of the impression platen to the address plate, and a selection device whereby said mechanism is controlled by suitable characteristics on the plates.

34. In an addressing machine, the combination of a magazine for address lates, a supporting platen, means for fee ing the bottommost plates from the magazine into osition over the platen, a reciprocatory ribbon frame overlying such laten, an impression platen, a paper fee ing drum over the ribbon and carrying the impression platen to coact with the rlbbon and a plate, and a selective device controlled by latecharacteristics for shifting the axis o the 35. In an addressing machine, the combination of a magazine for address plates ,-a,

, stock of address plates, in such magazine some of which have tabs projecting from an edge of the plate, and a selecting device having a stationary series of movable members acting on the tabs on the endmost plate while it is in the magazine.

' 36. In an addressing machine, the combination of a magazine for address plates,

there being space within the magazine for tabs on the edge of the address plates, a stack of address plates insuch magazme some of which have tabs projecting beyond an edge of the plate, and a selecting device located at least in part below the magazine and having members adapted to be engaged by tabs on the plates as they come to the bottom of the magazine.

37. In an addressing machine, the combination with a magazine for address plates, means for feeding the bottommost plate and for feeding paper to an impressing couple for printing" from suchplate, of a selecting device to control the printing, said selecting. device having a series of members adapted to engage tabsin various positions on the address plates as they successively become the bottommost late in the magazine, each member being a apted to prevent the printing operation and "prevent the feeding of paper, whereby said members may be used either singly, each by one tab, or in combinations by a plurality of tabs on a given plate.

38. In an addressing machine, the combination of a magazine for address plates, a supporting platen, means for feeding the bottommost plates from the magazine into position over the platen, a reciprocatory ribbon frame overlying such plate and platen, a paper feeding drum over the ribbon and carrying an impression platen adapted to coact' with the ribbon and a plate, a discharge guide for paper lying above the ribbon and terminatmg close to it, and ejector rollers coactlng with the drum.

39. Inan addressing machine the combination .of a magazine for address plates, a supporting platen, means for feeding the bottommost plates from the magazine into. position over the platen, a reciprocatory ribbon frame overlying such plate and platen, a paper feeding drum over the ribbon and carrying an impression platen adapted to coact with the ribbon and a plate, and endless belts engaging the rear face of the drum,

and adjustable -means for timing. the feed Lawn-anon MORSE. 

